Head, Neck & Oral Cancer

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer may develop in any part of your mouth. Risk factors include smoking or chewing tobacco, and excessive use of alcohol.

Treatment

Head and neck cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these treatments. Most patients receiving treatment to areas of the head and neck will develop side effects. The side effects are related to the location of the cancer and the type of treatment you receive. Some possible side effects include: dry mouth, taste changes, difficulty swallowing, sores in your mouth or throat, fatigue, changes in your voice, skin changes, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Know the Warning Signs of Oral Cancer

A mouth sore that doesn’t heal

Mouth pain that doesn’t go away

A lump or mass in the neck

A lump or thickening in the cheek

A sore throat or feeling that something is caught in the throat

A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil or lining of the mouth

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw

Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth

Persistent bad breath

Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable

Voice changes

Weight loss

Larynx Cancer

Laryngeal cancer occurs when malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the larynx. The larynx (voice box) is located just below the pharynx (throat) in the neck, and contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the pharynx, mouth, and nose to make your voice.